Hat working machine



March 1934- '1. A. EICHENBAUM HAT WORKING MACBINE Filed Oct. 31, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet l ICIIIIIEFIIIL INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. A,E|HENBAUM 1,950,102

HAT WORKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MM: fl

ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. A, ElcHENBAUM 1,950,102

HAT WORKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 L M INE i n WW155 I ATTORN EY Mam}! 1934- l. A. EICHENBAUM HAT WORKING MACHINE FiledOct. 31, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR filmy 15. fiirfzmmmz/ BY AATTORNEY March 6, 1934. A ECHENBAUM 1,950,102

HAT WORKING MACHINE Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3Claims.

This invention relates to the finishing of hats of felt or the like,having to be given after blocking a plurality of ironing, pouncing andluring operations or the like, these operations usually I performed byhand; it being explained that the number and variation of suchoperations and the duration of each aiiect to a large extent the qualityof hat produced and are consequently a considerable factor in placingthe hat in the cheap or expensive class.

The present invention provides various improvements in previous machinesdisclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,783,112 and in my copendingapplication Serial No. 474,435 as well also 16 as important additionalfeatures.

One of the specific objects of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved assemblage of more efficient upper finishing tools, andimproved means for operating the same, among which tools is a pouncerjiggled when brought to operating position against a desired surface ofthe hat exterior.

Another specific object is to provide, in combination with upperfinishing tools, a lower finish ing tool or tools adapted to be poweroperated simultaneously with the power operation of a selected upperfinishing tool.

Another specific object is to provide in a machine of the type indicateda lower finishing tool, which is what is known in the art as a jiggerand which may be power-operated simultaneously with an upper finishingtool during spinning of the hat.

Another specific object is to provide, in a power driven machine, incombination with a hat spinning means, a plurality of sets of finishingtools, so assembled with the other machine parts that both a selectedupper finishing tool and a selected lower finishing tool may besimultaneously poweroperated against the upper and lower brim surfacesof the the hat.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbe pointed out or become apparent as the specification proceeds.

45 With such objects in view, the invention resides in certain novelconstructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly describedin the following specification, and fully illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which latter show only one of many possibleembodiments of the invention as at present preferred.

In said drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. l is a front elevation of said embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hat-carrying table, the horizontalturn-table for the upper finishing tools to be applied to the hat crownexterior and to the hat brim top, and, partially obscured by said table,the vertical turn-table for so the lower finishing tools to be appliedto the hat brim bottom;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is principally an elevation of the parts 5 shown in Fig. 3, beingactually a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view, partially in horizontal section taken online (55 of Fig. 4, showing an adjuster for hat size;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section, taken on the line '77 of Fig. 2, showingan elevation adjuster for the hat table and also a releasable clampingmeans for securing to the hat table a hat block of a selected hat size;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal section of the upper buffer tool orpouncer, with said tool swung through a circular path in a clockwisedirec- 30 tion from the location thereof illustrated in Fig.

2 to a location overlying the hat table, to become substituted for thetool now shown at said location in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 35 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 8, showing typical structural detailsof any one of the other three upper finishing tools on the samehorizontal turn-table with the just mentioned buffer tool;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of a means for automatically shiftingthe center of rotation of the hat table to agree with the non-circularshape of a hat crown and brim;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the lower buffer toolor jigger, in longitudinal section, that is, in horizontal section aftersaid tool has been swung 9 through a circular path from the locationthereof illustrated in Fig. 3 to become substituted for the lowerfinishing tool now indicated in Fig. 3 as located immediately below thehat table;

Fig. 14 is a transverse section, taken on the line l i-l l of Fig. 13;and

Fig. 15 is a diagram of electrical connections and devices helpful toassist in participating in the control of two motors shown also in Fig.1, one, hereinafter called the hat motor, for spinning the hat and alsofor actuating upper and lower tools as and when required, and the other,hereinafter called the screw motor, for raising and lowering an uppertool to sweep the same over the side and top of the hat crown.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first particularly to Fig.1, and to the parts to the right of a vertical web which with a similarweb 21 and a base 22 and a top 28 form the main or lower frame of themachine, certain electrical devices are in this view shown for drivingthe various working parts. These devices include a reversible motor 24,hereinafter called the screw motor, for rotating through a suitablereduction gearing 25, a vertical shaft 26, in one direction or theother, to raise or lower the upper finishing tool then in workingposition against the hat; and a non-reversible motor 2'7, simultaneouslyoperated, hereinafter called the hat motor, for driving through areduction gearing 28, a vertical shaft 29 for coacting with partsthereabove to spin a hat H, by whirling the hat brim bottom over theflat upper surface of a fixed hat table 30, and for driving by means ofa pulley 31 on 1 the motor shaft, a belt 32, this belt driving an uppershaft 33 by passing over a pulley 34 thereon. This shaft 33, iournalledin a standard 35 set on the frame top 23, at its end adjacent the pulley34, drives a flexible shaft 35 for actuating means hereinafter describedwhich jiggle the pouncer, and shaft 33 at its opposite end carries apulley 37 for driving a belt as shown at 38 (in Fig. 5). This beltengages a pulley 39 on a stub shaft 40, to rotate with the shaft a spurgear 41. As hereinafter also explained, said gear 41 meshes with asimilar gear on each of the lower finishing tools incidental to abringing of any such tool to its working position for acting against theunderside of the hat brim through a suitable opening 42 (Figs. 3 and 5)in the hat table 30; in

which working position each such tool is to be.

spinningly operated after being substituted thereat for another tool.

There will now be described in detail, the hat rotating means, drivenfrom shaft 29 as aforesaid, for giving the hat H, despite thenon-eircular character of its crown and brim outlines, a rotation suchthat its surfaces to be dressed always pass the dressing tools adjacentthe opening last mentioned as though said outlines were circular.Referring to Figs. 1, 11 and 12, as shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12,frame top 23 has an opening 43 through which upwardly extends a verticalshaft 44 on which is a slip-sleeve structure 45 having a top flange 45a,to a proper point on the underside of which is secured, by screws 46(Figs. 11 and 12), the top of an L- shaped extension 47 of a block 47.On the bottom of this block a roller 48 is rotatively held in place by ascrew stud 49. This roller is a follower for a cam 50 having anon-circular outline corresponding to that of the hat crown and brim,but with the major axis of such outline at right angles to the same axisof the outline of the hat crown and brim when the hat is clamped on thehat block rotating above and with shaft 44 as hereinafter explained.Said cam is pinned to shaft 29, above a bracket 51 in which the upperportion of said shaft is journalled. A lug 451) on lower flange 450 ofslip-sleeve 45 is always pulled toward the bracket 51 by a retractiblespring 52. The upperend of shaft 29 is connected to the lower end ofshaft 44 by a short tilt shaft 53, this shaft 53 being coupled to theshafts 29 and 44 by universal joints 54.

Thus, as the shaft 29 rotates, the shaft 44 is similarly rotated but issimultaneously moved so that its axis of rotation travels through a noncircular path in a manner always to cause the hat surfaces at anyinstant being dressed to traverse the dressing zone as though the hatwere circular and spinning about its center.

The hat block, indicated at B in Fig. 3, is carried by a circular base55 spun in a circular opening in hat table 30, of annular type as shownin Figs. 2 and 3. Base 55 is secured, as shown at 56 in Fig. 7, to thetop of a sleeve ,57, this sleeve always rotating with shaft 44' due tothe intermeshing of a pinion 58 in the sleeve with a line of rack teeth59 along the shaft, but with the sleeve when desired, adjustablelongitudinally of the shaft by turning a hand-wheel 60 on the pinionshaft. The hat block mount lVl may be any desired type, but is hereshown as carrying a positioning stud M for entering a correspondingrecess familiar in certain makes of block, and also a positioningclamping claw M" for seizin a surface designed to take said claw andfamiliar in certain other makes of block. Said claw is operated to swingin against such surface, when a block of that type is to be secured onbase 55, by turning a hand-wheel 61, the hub of which is threaded asshown to the sleeve 57 to cause said wheel to travel up along thesleeve; this causing a link 62 to rock the lever 63 about its pivot 64to swing the claw in toward the center of base 55.

Referring to the upper finishing tools, these are here, for example,four in number, marked 65, 66, 67 and 68 in Figs. 1 to 5. Tool 67 is theironing tool, because its side and bottom working surfaces, marked 6'7and 67" in Fig. 4, are uncovered metal; unlike the other three toolswhose metal bodies at these surfaces are covered. The tools and 68 areluring tools, they being constructed like the tool 67, except that theyare covered on their working surfaces with padding 69. Said luringtools, like the ironing tool 67, are heated, as shown in the case ofsaid tool 67 in Fig. 10, by an electric heater 70 served by wires '71and 72. Each of these three tools is secured in place, by threaded studsmarked 73 in Fig. 10, between fork extensions 74a offset radially, asshown best in Fig. 2, from a skeleton central portion 74b of ahorizontal turn-table 74 for all the upper tools. The fourth remainingupper tool 65 is here a pouncer shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, havingits padding 69 covered by a pouncing sheet 69, this being a materialknown in the art similar to emery cloth, sandpaper or the like. Themanner of mounting the pouncer 55 on its fork extensions 74a and othermechanical features thereof, will be later described. But it is nowpointed out that this pouncer is like the other three upper tools inthat it comprises an inner casing '76 corresponding to the inner casings'76 of the other tools by which the latter are directly connected totheir fork extensions 74a at '73; in that said inner casing includestop, back, bottom and side walls and an open front; and in that saidinner casing slidably mounts an outer casing 15 for carrying thefinishing surfaces of the tool and other wise corresponding to the outercasings of the other tools,--that is, each of such outer casingsincludes top, front and botom walls, with an open back and open sides.The outer casing of each tool tends always to protrude yieldinglyradially outward of the turn-table '74 due to expansile springs '77arranged, between the back and front walls of the tool provided by thetwo casings, on rods 78 secured to said front wall andpassing throughsaid back wall. Beyond the latter wall the rods have heads to limit therelative movement between the two casings. Thus, each tool, whenoperating on a hat, will be forced against the hat at the finishingsurface of the front wall of the tool.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the turn-table 74 is supported on a basestructure 79 on which the turn-table may be manually rotated 90, whendesired, about the axis of a screw 80. This base structure has anannularly hollowed-out portion as shown clearly in Fig. 3 to contain anannular insulation 81 in which are slip-rings 82 respectively takingbrushes 83 mounted in an ann'ular insulation 84 secured to the undersideof a disc 85 fixed to the bottom of the turn-table. The connection fromthese brushes issue from above the turn-table as indicated at 86, andthence go to the heating elements within the three tools 66, 67 and 68to be heated as aforesaid; noting in this connection, again, the wires71 and 72 of Fig. 10.

The base 79 is secured, as indicated at 87 in Fig. 3, to the outer endof a plate 88, the inner end of which is pivoted as shown at 89 in Figs.1 and 6 to the outer end of a block 90 having a dove-tail fit at itsbottom within a grooove 91a in the top of a rock-table 92 supported onlegs 93.

This block is adjustable toward and away from a fixed standard 94, toreadjust the upper finishing tools forvarious hat sizes, by means of ahand-wheel 95, on the shaft of which turning in rock-table 92 is apinion (not shown) engaging a rack (not shown) on block 90. Verticallyadjustable on standard 94 by means similar to that last described, as onoperation of a hand-wheel 96, is a profile block 97 having cam grooves97a on opposite sides thereof, within which ride rollers 98 set in arear extension 92a of rock-table 92. With the blocks 90 and 97 properlyset on their supports 92 and 94, a hat of any size may be perfectlyoperated on by an upper finishing tool while the hat is spinning; thelegs 93, of which two others are located beyond the two shown in Fig. 1,being pivotally connected at their tops at 99 to the rock-table 92 andat their bottoms at 100 to an ascending and descending table 101 securedat its top to a screw 102 threadedly mounted at 103. In its up and downmovements, this table is guided by rods 104 sliding through bearings105. Said screw, which is hollow from its lower end to a suitable highpoint to sleeve the shaft 26, is rotated by said shaft during running ofthe tool motor 24. By means hereinafter explained operated by aprojection 106 on a rod 104 to the right "in Fig. 1, this motor isreversed after the table 101 has risen to its upper limit to lay overthe central crown portion of the hat the bottom surface of the upperfinishing tool then in working position relative to the hat.

Referring still to Fig. 1, but now also to Figs. 11 and 12, it will benoted that block 47 at its left side is provided with steps 47a thelowermost of which has a riser 47b of considerable height. Until thetable 101 has risen so high that the side or peripheral rotundity of thehat crown begins to merge with a top or radial rotundity thereof, thecompensating action of cam 50 continues as already described duringrising of the upper tool above the top of the brim. During this period,the wall 107a of an opening 10% in a slider 10'? on a fixed guide rod108, is inoperative relative to said block 47; this slider beingconnected by a link 109 to the end of a lever 110, pivoted near thebottom of rod 108 as indicated at 111,

the other end of this lever being pivotally con nected at 112 to acollar adjustable along the rod 104 to the left in Fig. 1 and securablein the desired adjustment by set screw 112. The parts are so arrangedthat only while a finishing tool is moved upwardly or downwardly over aradial rotundity of the hat does said wall 107a engage one of theelements 47a and 47b of the block 47 said element 47b being thus engagedto maintain the shafts 29 and 44 in the same vertical axis despite therotation of cam 50, when a tool is working on the center top portion ofthe hat crown, and various ones of the steps 47a being engaged by saidwall 107a as the difference between the major and minor axes of theelliptical shape of the hat wall around the crown more and moredecreases as said tool moves upwardly of the hat and more and moreincreases as said tool I moves downwardly of the hat.

As shown best in Figs. 2' and 3, the turn-table 74 for the upper tools,is detained to hold any selected tool in working position by a stud 113upstanding as shown from the base 7'9, this stud adapted to enter anyone of four recesses in the hub of the turn-table; there being four ofsuch recesses, 90 apart, two of which are shown in Fig. 3 at 114. Screw80 has a lower cylindrical portion which turns loosely in a well at thecentral cylindrical portion of base 79, and an upper threaded portionextended through a similarly threaded opening at the center of theturntable. By means of a hand-wheel 115 the screw 80 may be turned toraise the turn-table to release the same from the base 79, and, afterthe turntable has been rotated to bring the next tool to workingposition, said screw 80 may be turned in the opposite direction to lowerthe turn-table to lock the same on the base as shown.

Referring now to the means for jiggling the pouncer 65, actuated asaforesaid by flexible shaft 36, now see Figs. 8 and 9. The pouncer ishung on a shaft 116, rotatable in bearings in the fork extensions 74a onwhich this tool is mounted. This shaft at one end carries a roller 117,and at its other end has fixed thereon a pulley 118, balancing expansilecoil springs 119 being arranged between the sides of the tool and eachof said fork extensions. Fixed on the shaft within the tool is acylindrical cam 120 in the endless groove 1200. of which rides a roller121 journalled in the tool as indicated at 122. Thus, on rotation of theshaft, the tool will be moved back and forth lengthwisely of the shaft.As shown in Fig. 2, the pouncer has offset from one side thereof, a rod123 slidable back and forth across the top of fork extension 74a on thatside of the tool, to keep the pouncer from turning on its shaft 116while being jiggled. As also shown in Fig. 2, pulley 118 on said shaftis engaged by a belt 124 also engaging a pulley 125. As shown in Figs. 2and 3, this latter pulley is on a short vertical shaft 126 journalled inan extension 742) of the central portion 74b of the turn-table 74. Atits bottom said shaft has fixed a coupling 127. Whenever the turn-tableis so rotationally adjusted that pouncer 65 is in position to operate ona hat, that is, when such tool 65 is placed in the position shown asoccupied by the tool 66 in Fig. 2, said coupling 127 has its teethinterlocked with similar teeth on a complementary coupling 128. Thislast mentioned coupling, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, is secured to theupper end of a short and other associated parts will next be described,

It will be recalled that each such tool is to 'work against theunderside of the hat brim through an opening 42 inthe fixed hat table30. This table is supported by a suitable plurality of legs 132 certainof which are shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5; to which views reference willnow be had. A cross-frame 133 is vertically adjustable in asseinblingthe machine on a. pair of standards 134; said frame having verticalsleeves 133a, which are split (note Fig. 1) and tightened by bolts 135.This frame has also a very long horizontal sleeve 1331), in which oneend of a heavy round rod 136 is received and held tight (see pin 13'?Fig. 1).

' The opposite end of this rod has thereon a disc shown at 133 in Fig.3, pinned fast at 139. Between this disc and said sleeve 133b, as alsoshown in Fig. 3, is a rotary sleeve 140 carrying a disc 141, and the hubof a vertical turn-table 142. Said hub and the sleeve 140 are suitablykeyed together in a manner, not shown, to rotate as one unit, and withinone of the discs 133 and 141 is a suitably insulated slip-ring (notshown) and within the other is a suitably insulated brush (not shown) sothat no matter which of the four tools 143, 144, 145 and 146 carried bythis turn-table is positioned at the location occupied by the tool v 143in Figs. 3 and 5, an electric current supply from a suitable source to awire 14'? always continues to a wire 148 and thence by connections notshown to suitable electric heaters associated with each of certain ofthese lower finishing tools.

- These heaters are also not shown, further to simplify the drawing, butthey may be of the general type hereinabove referred to and indicated at70 in Fig. 10, and are suitably housed in shields 143a, 144a and 145a,to have three lower finishing tools 143, 144 and 145 which are heatedtools, thus to furnish sayone ironing tool and two luring tools amongthe lower finishing tools as has been described as included among theupper finishing tools.

Each of these three lower tools, 143, 144 and 145 is a drum rotatable inits shield; each such drum being suitably fixed on its shaft 143b, 1441)and 14513, each such shaft being journalled in a horizontal bearingprovided axially in one of four cylindrical enlargements 142a spaced 90around the rim 142b of the turn-table, and each such shaft beingsuitably restrained against endwise movement by its said drum and a spurgear 149 also fixed on the shaft. Said gears are identical with eachother and with gear 41, so that when any one of said three lower toolsis brought to working position its gear 149 may enter into mesh withgear 41, the latter constantly rotating as aforesaid with pulley 39 bydrive from belt 38, and thus the drum constituting the tool will spinagainst the underside of the hat brim to perform its appointed work infinishing the same. The fourth tool 146 is an under-brim pouncer orjigger. This jigger 146 has as its finishing surface the surface thereofshown in Fig. 3, and is moved back and forth, in a U-frame 150,lengthwisely of such surface when moved to working position within theopening 42 in the hat table, that is, when a gear 149' on the shaft146?) is entered into mesh with gear 41 and to take the positionoccupied by the gear 149 shown at the uppermost-location in Fig. 3.Refer in this connection now from Fig. 3 to Figs. 13 and 14, from whichviews it will be seen clearly that through the frame 150, laid fiatagainst the appropriate cylindrical enlargement 142a of turn-table 142,the shaft 1491) extends into the interior of the jigger 146; said framebeing suitably secured in place against the part 142a, as by screws notshown. At its end within the jigger said shaft has fixed thereon abeveled gear 151 meshing with a similar gear 152 fixed on a shaft 154passing loosely through the side walls 146' of the jigger and journalledin the ends of frame 150 but held against endless movement relative tosaid frame by collars 155. The jigger is formed of a single casing, saidside walls 146 thereof having fork extensions 146 straddling the centrallength of the U-frame. Also secured on shaft 154 is a cylindrical cam156 having an endless groove 156a within which rides a roller 15'?journalled in the jigger as indicated at 158.

Thus, all the time the lower tool 146 is at its working location, thegear 41 is driving the gear 149 (Fig. 3) and with it the gear 151 (Fig.13), and said tool acts as a jigger against the side of the hat brim.

In order to substitute one lower tool for another, the turri-table orcarrier-wheel 142 is rotated the required extent, as by grasping thesame at convenient points, to which end suitably placed handles, asindicated at 159 in Figs. 1 and 5 may be provided.

In order to lock the carrier-wheel 142 in an adjustment to bring any oneof its four lower tools to working position, the following parts areprovided. Cast integral with the cross-frame 133 is an L-shaped bracketas shown at 161 in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, on the upper end of which ispivotally mounted at 162 in Fig. 5, a lever 163. As will be seen best bycomparing Figs. 3 and 5, the arm of said lever to the left in Fig. 5constitutes a handle, which may be pulled up when desired against aretractile spring 164. The other arm of the lever carries an upstandingterminal portion, and has a double bend along its main length, as shown.At its upper end this upstanding terminal portion of the lever presentsa fork 16311 to take around the bottom and sides of the rear-. wardlyprojecting end of any one of the shafts 143b, 1441), 145i) and 1466which is brought uppermost by turning the carrier-wheel 142 to bring theselected tool operated by the rotation of such a shaft to its workingposition in the opening 42 of the hat table 30. The double bend in themain length of the lever just above referred to, permits said wheel tobe thus rotated as desired.

Thus, to substitute one lower finishing tool for another, it is simplynecessary to lift up the handle arm of the lever 163, thus to releasethe fork 163a from the shaft end previously engaged, then rotate thecarrier-wheel 142 the required amount; and then permit the spring 164 torestore said lever to the position shown in Fig. 5.

The shaft 40 which carries the pulley 39 is journalled on the mainlength of the lever 163, just below the fork 163a. Thus the gear 41 isdropped somewhat each time the lever 163 is operated and thecarrier-wheel 142 is turned to substitute a new lower tool, and onreturn of the lever to its illustrated position, said gear 41 and thegear 149 or 149' thereover are thrown into full mesh. The are ofmovement of the axis of shaft 40, during operation of said lever, is soof the bowl.

small that the drive of belt 38 between pulleys 37 and 89 is notaifected.

Referring next principally to Figs. 2 and 3, the annular hat table 30 isprovided with an opening 165 long enough to extend completely across thehat brim, and by means of this opening the underside of such brim may besprayed with a finishing powder when and as required, such powder forthe upper hat surfaces being sprinkled on by hand in the usual way.Within said opening 165 is the flattened mouth 166a of a nozzle 166 atthe top of a receptacle 167; which receptacle, at its removable cap 168carrying said nozzle, has a plurality of studs 168a, one of which isshown at 167. Each of these studs coacts with its own bayonet slot asshown at 169m; these slots being formed in a mounting ring 169 for thereceptacle. This ring is carried by a bracket 170 including the same anda sleeve 172, secured at the proper height on a hat table leg 132.Attached to said bracket is a normally closed valve 173 having a button174 or the like to be actuated temporarily to open the valve.

This valve is interposed between an air tube 176 leading down as shownin Fig. 1, to a compressed air tank 177, having a service motor 177a.When the button 174 is pressed, compressed air will deliver powder fromthe receptacle through the nozzle 165 to the under surface of the hatbrim during spinning of the hat.

Forming an inbuilt part of the machine is a hat blocking means shown tothe left in Fig. 1. Here a hat may be blocked, and then, within the samemachine, transferred to a new location,

that is, mounted on the hat table 30, and there finished all over by thefinishing tools above described.

Said hat blocking means includes a pair of standards 178, spaced 180apart, secured at their lower ends to the top 23 of the main frame ofthe machine and spanned near their upper ends by a fixed bridge-piece179. This element 179 has a central internally threaded sleeve 179a,within which is a screw 180 secured as at 180a against turning. Screw180 has suitably fixed to its bottom a disc 181 forming part of ahat-block holding head, and through openings in said disc extend thelower ends of claws 182 for gripping against and below the disc aselected hat-block, these claws being pivoted on said head as indicatedat 182a and being connected at their upper ends to links 183 which havetheir upper ends socketed in a collar 183a loose in a peripheral groove184a around a nut structure 184 which -may be spirally moved up and downby turning handles 184b in one direction or the other. These parts arewell known, the claws moving in and out as the handles are operated asabove.

A ring 185 is secured as a rim around an opentopped bowl 186. The bottomof this bowl is connected as shown at 187 to a plate 188a carried at thetop of a piston 18.8 movable up and down in a cylinder 189. Compressedair from the tank 177 is admitted to the cylinder to raise the pistonand the bowl to block the hat brim between the disc 182 and the ring 185and the hat crown upon the block secured as above by the claws 183 whilesubjected to heat and moisture from the interior If moisture, as steam,is desired to be employed, it may be admitted in any convenient mannerto the interior of the bowl, or the hat to be blocked may be moistenedin any suitable way before being blocked. The heating means hereutilized includes an annular electric heater 190, suitably exteriorlyinsulated, on the outside of the bowl. This heater is served by wiresconnected to terminals 191; a. make and break switch for the circuitwhich includes said wires being indicated at 192.

A pair of treadles are arranged alongside each other as shown at 193,each treadle being pivoted at 193m and connected by a link 194 to a rocklever 195 fulcrummed intermediate its ends as indicated at 195a; suchlinks 194 being connected to said lever at opposite sides of suchfulcrum. Near the latter the lever 195 has a depending arm 195b, whichon a swing thereof in one direction sets a three-way valve 196 to admitcompressed air from tank 177 to cylinder 189 below piston 188 whileexhausting the cylinder above the piston, and which on a swing thereofin the opposite direction sets said valve to admit compressed air to thecylinder above piston 188 while exhausting the cylinder below thepiston. Thus, on depressing one treadle 193, compressed air will sendthe bowl 186 to the upper limit of its stroke to block the hat; and onthereafter depressing the other treadle 193, compressed air will returnthe bowl 186 to its illustrated position, so that the block hat may beremoved from the bowl and immediately transferred to the hat table 30for subjection to the finishing tools.

As soon as the blocked hat is placed. on the hat table 30, and theturn-table 74 has been rotationally adjusted to set the desired upperfinishing tool in working position, and the carrier wheel 142 has beenrotationally adjusted to set the desired lower finishing tool in workingposition, the hat motor 27 is started, by a starter button 200, or boththe hat motor and the screw motor 24 are started, by a starter button201, as desired; a stop button for the hat motor being indicated at 202,and a stop button for both motors being indicated at 203.

These buttons, shown in Figs. 1 and 15, are parts of well-known types ofmomentary contact switches as shown in the latter view, which view givesa general diagram of the circuit connections and particular electricalcontrols preferred to be employed.

The dot-and-dash rectangle 204 in Figs. 1 and 15 indicates a suitablepanel to carry certain of the controls.

Comparing now Figs. 1 and 15, at 205 is indicated a relay including asolenoid coil 20511 for closing a pair of normally open contactors 205Dand 205a, thereby to close the circuit for the hat motor 27 ondepressing starter button 200, this relay then starting and maintainingthe running of the hat motor only, as for employing upper and lowerfinishing tools relative merely to the hat brim surfaces.

Ordinarily, however, the method of operation employed is, by depressingthe starter button 201, to set the electrical controls for automaticaction first to start the hat motor 27, and then, after a predeterminedtime interval, to start the screw motor 24, so that then both motorswill run simultaneously; the starter button 200 not being touched.

At 206 is indicated a lag relay for delaying the starting of the screwmotor 24, to a predetermined extent desired, say 15 seconds, afterstarting up of the hat motor 27. Thus, after the hat has been spinningon its table 30, with the selected upper and lower tools acting on thetop and bottom of the brim of the hat for a predetermined length oftime, the screw motor 24 starts, and said selected tools act to finishthe hat crown all over, gradually working up on said crown as the screw102 turns to raise the table 101 to its upper limit of travel.

When said table reaches said limit, the stud 106 on the right hand rod104 in Fig. 1 strikes an abutment 207 on a link 208 having a slottedmounting at 209, and said linl: is pulled up, and through a crankconnection to its lower end indicated at 210, actua es a reverse switch211 for reversing the direction of running of the screw motor 24. I

Said motor 24, during its running in such reverse direction, actuatesscrew 102 to lower said table 101 to its lower limit of travel;whereupon said stop 106 strikes an abutment 212 on said link andactuates the link again to reverse the direction of running of the screwmotor 24. At the same time, the bottom of the just-mentioned rod 104depresses the actuator 213 of a limit or stop switch 214 for shuttingofi both motors.

Now, if it is desired to have the same upper and lower tools repeattheir operations on the hat as above described, the starter button 201is again depressed; and the above-described cycle repeats itself. If, onthe other hand, it is desired to change the upper and lower tools, or

either thereof, or to remove the finished hat and substitute another hatto be finished, this is done before again depressing said starterbutton.

The various circuits, and certain auxiliary controls not yetspecifically mentioned, will now be described.

Assuming it is only desired to run the hat motor 27, by depressing thestarter button 200, current will flow through connections a, b, c, d, e,f, to actuate the relay 205 by energizing its coil 205a and closing itscontactors 205i) and 2050, thence through connection g, thence throughthe normally closed contactors 2151) and 2150 opened .only when coil215a is later energized to close normally open contactors 215d and 215e(these parts making up a familiar type of double-acting relay having arocker-mounting between contactors 215?) and 2150, and contactors 215dand 215e, so that one such pair must be opened when the other is closed,and vice versa), and thence through wires h, i, j, thence through thenow momentarily closed starter button 200, and the normally closed stopbutton 202, and thence through connections n, 0 and p. Despite theimmediate release of the starter button 200 depressed to make thiscircuit, coil 205d will remain energized, and the relay 205 will remainfunctioning, through a circuit starting from connection a, as above, upto and through the con nection 2' to a contact point 205d, and thencethrough the contactor 205e, thence through a connection q, and thencethrough the connections n, 0 and p, as above described.

Thus the coil 205a will become and remain energized and the relay 205functioning, to maintain the contactors 2051) and 2050 closed, from andafter the momentary depression of starter button 200. Yet, by amomentary depression thereafter of the stop button 202, said relay willbe de-energized as illustrated in Fig. 15, due

to the breaking of the circuit last described between the connections qand n at 202.

All the while the relay 205 is functioning, how- .ever, since then thecontactors 2052) and 2050 are being held closed as aforesaid by coil205a,

the hat motor 27 is running; said motor being served by a circuitincluding connections a, 'r and s, the contactor 205b, and theconnection p.

Next to consider the somewhat more compli cated electrical operationwhen the most usual operation of the machine is to be had, that is, astarting up of the hat motor 27 first, and then after a predetermineddelay a starting up of the screw motor 24, and then a reversing of thescrew motor, and then the stoppage of both motors simultaneously andautomatically; this all accomplished by depressing the starter button201, ignoring the three other buttons 200, 202 and 203.

On depressing said button 201, current will flow first to actuate therelay 205, so that the hat motor 27 will start; such actuating currentflowing through a connection t, thence through the lag relay 206, thencethrough connections u, v, w and x, thence through the now momentarilyclosed starter button 201, and thence through the connections m, o andp. Also at the same time, the coil 215a of relay 215 is energized, thisclosing the contactors 215d and 215e, and, as above, necessarily openingthe contactors 215D and 2150; all this being accomplished by a circuitincluding the connections a, b, c, d and e, a connection y, said coil21511, a connection 12, the connections w and :13, the temporarilyclosed 00 starter button 201, and the connections m, o and 10. Despitethe immediate release of said button 201, the coil 205a of the hat motorrelay 205 will continue to be energized to maintain the running of saidmotor, and the coil 215a 105 will remain energized, as also will thecoil of the lag relay 206, through circuit-maintaining connections a, b,c, d and e to a point ad; from which point there are two branches tocomplete the circuit. The first of these includes connection coil 205a,connection 9, a connection bb, contactor 215d, connection 12, contactor215e, a connection cc, the stop or limit switch 214, a connection dd,and connections m, o and p. The second of these branches includes,starting again at aa, connection y, coil 215a, connection 22, contactor215e, connection cc, said switch 214, and connections dd, m, 0 and p. Amaintaining circuit, this for the coil of lag relay 206, includesconnection it, said coil, connections 'u. and v, contactor 215e,connection cc, said switch 214, and connections dd, m, o and 10.

On the expiration of a predetermined interval of time, say 15 seconds,after starting of the hat motor 27 through relay 205 as above, 2 lagrelay 206 will bridge spaced contacts 206a and 20Gb.

Thereupcn a circuit will be established to actuate the right half of areversing relay 216, thus to set the system for the starting up of screwmotor 24; said circuit including connections a, b, c, and d, aconnection ee, coil 216a, a connection ff, the reversing switch 211, aconnection 951, thence across contacts 206a and 2061) (now bridged asaforesaid) and thence connections it and o, contactor 215e, connectioncc, stop switch 214, and connections dd, m, oand p. This circuitenergizes the coil 216a at the right side of the reversing relay 216,closing the contactors 2166 and 216 Thereby, the circuit 140 of thescrew motor 24 is closed, with the field 24a energized to drive saidmotor to raise the table 101; this motor circuit including connectionsa, b, c and d, contactor 216i, connections 7171 and 7'11, the motorarmature, connections Ick and mm, contactors 216e, a connection 1m, andconnections 15 and p. At the same time, the field 24a of the screw motoris excited by a circuit including connections a, b, c and d, aconnection 00, the coil of said field, connections pp and 5 c OJ qq,contactor 216e, and connections nn, t and 17.

Both motors are now up, tospeed, the screw motor 24 moving the table 101upwardly.

When said table reaches its upper limit of travel, mechanical partsoperate as hereinabove described, and reversing switch 211 is thrownover from contact 211a to contact 2111). Thereupon, the screw motor 24is reversed, to lower the table 101; this being accomplished byreversing the armature circuit. When said reversing switch 211 is thrownto break the connection at 211a, and to make the connection at 2112),the coil 216a to the right in the reversing relay 216 becomesde-energized, and the coil 2161) becomes energized; this opening thecontactors 216a and 216], and closing the contactors 2160 and 216d. Thecircuit set up by the throw of the reversing switch 211 for energizingthe coil 2l6b as just stated (the circuit for energizing the coil 216abeing broken at said switch 211 by said throw) includes connections a, band c, a connection coil 2161), a connection as, contact 211b,connection 9 9, the bridged contacts 206a and 20%, connections u and v,contactor 215e, connection cc, stop switch 214, and connections dd, m, oand p. This accomplishes the above mentioned reversal of current throughthe armature circuit, current now flowing through connections at, b andc, contactor 216e, connection Iclc, the armature, connection y'y',contactor 216d, and connections If and p. The shunt field now existing,although not reversed, is somewhat different from that last described,including connections a, b, c and d, a connection 00, the field coil 2%,connections pp and it, contactor 216d, and connections I? and p.

Screw motor 24 having now been reversed, the table 101 begins todescend. When said table reaches its lower limit of travel, mechanicalparts operate as hereinabove described, and limit or stop switch 214 isopened, and reversing switch 211 is again thrown to the illustratedcondition. The stop switch is opened first, shutting off both motorsthrough the common return including connections dd, m, o and p for allrelay coil circuits. The screw motor will coast sufficiently so thatimmediately after such opening of said stop switch, the reversing switchwill be reset as just above.

The parts are then ready for the above cycle of operations to berepeated on again depressing starterb-utton 201, provided a singleauxiliary be present, as described in the paragraph following.

In the foregoing description, it has been assumed that the stop switch214 is always in closed condition, except when opened at the end of theoperating cycle. Such switch, however, is of the type wherein itsactuating arm (see again 213, in Fig. 1) is of the spring-return type,so that said switch will be held open on and after completion of theoperating cycle, thus automatically then to stop the machine. Yet asubsequent momentary depression of the starter button 200 should causethe operating cycle to be repeated. In order to meet this latterrequirement, there is incorporated a lag relay 217 with normally closedcontacts which are connected as shown in shunt across stop switch 214 byconnections 2m and co to complete the circuit across the open points ofsaid switch 214. The coil of the relay 217 is connected in multiple withthe coil of relay 206, by connections ww and man, so that both thesecoils become energized simultaneously. The relay 217 is so adjusted thatit will open the contacts between connections cc and to after a certainlength of time, sufiicient to allow the screw motor 24 to raise table101 and continue its elevation until the stop switch 214 is freed toclose itself; that is the relay 217 is adjusted for lag relative to theadjustment of the relay 206 for lag, so that the relay 217 will maintainits contacts closed until after the hat motor 27 has started and,following that, until after the lag relay 206 for starting the screwmotor 24 by bridging the contacts 206a and 2061) has accomplished suchbridging and the screw motor has started and run for that brief fractionof time required to raise the table 101 to free the spring urgedactuator 213 of stop switch 214 thereby to close said switch.

As will be obvious, the machine may be stopped at any time intermediatethe beginning and end. of an operating cycle thereof, by depressing thestop button 203; and at any time thereafter restarted to complete suchcycle and then automatically stop, as hereinabove described, bydepressing the starter button 201.

At 218 is indicated an isolating resistance, the purpose of which is toisolate the circuits of the coils 205a and 21541 from the shunt fieldcoil 24a of the motor 24.

The hereinbefore described construction admits of considerablemodification without departing from the invention; therefore, I do notwish to be limited to the precise arrangements shown and described,which are, as aforesaid, by way of illustration merely. In other words,the scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from theappended claims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the priorart.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hat working machine, the combina tion of a hat form rotatingmeans, a tool adapted to be directed against the upper surface 01' a hatrotating with said form, means for moving said tool to follow the radialrotundity of the hat crown while raising and lowering said tool abovethe hat brim, means for causing the hat form to shift its axis ofrotation to compensate for the elliptical outline of the hat crown, andmeans for modifying the means last mentioned to decrease more and moresuch axis shifting in accordance with the decreasing differences betweenthe major and minor axes of such elliptical outline as the tool works athigher and higher levels on the hat crown, said axis shifting meansincluding a cam always rotating about an axis parallel to the axis ofrotation of the hat form rotating means, and said modifying meansincluding a follower for said cam, a journalling mount for the hatrotating means moved with said follower, and means controlled by theheight of said tool on the crown of the hat for holding said followeraway from the cam at points on the cam of lesser radii than other pointsthereon.

2. In a hat working machine, the combination of a hat form rotatingmeans, a tool adapted to be directed against the upper surface of a hatrotating with said form, means for moving said tool to follow the radialrotundity of the hat crown while raising and lowering said tool abovethe hat brim, means for causing the hat form to shift its axis ofrotation to compensate for the elliptical outline of the hat ferencesbetween the major and minor axes of such elliptical outline as the toolworks at higher and higher levels on the hat crown, said axis shiftingmeans including a cam always rotating about an axis parallel to the axisof rotation of the hat form rotating means, and said modifying meansincluding a follower for said cam, a journalling mount for the hatrotating means moved with said follower, and means controlled by theheight of said tool on the crown of the hat for holding said followeraway from the cam at points on the cam or lesser radii than other pointsthereon, said follower having a stepped face different steps of whichare suc cessively engaged by the means last mentioned as said toolreaches different height on the hat crown.

